Hard Drive Guide
A Hard drive is the most important component of a computer after CPU and motherboard. Hard drive is the non-volatile storage medium that stores your files and folders into the computer’s permanent memory after you have turned off your system.
The hard drive plays a very important role in the overall performance of a computer. A slow hard drive can hamper the speed of the fastest CPU and the functioning of the best PC. It is thus very important to match the hard drive with the CPU and motherboard. Here are some guidelines to help you make the right choice:
Buy a disk with the best IDE or SCSI interface.
The capacity should not be less than 8-10 GB.
The seek time should ideally be 8 millisecond or less.
The interface and cabling should support the hard drive.
Remember that the selection of a hard drive also depends on the function your PC performs for you. There can be many permutations and combinations vis-à-vis speed and storage capacity and the following table would help you take your pick.
|
Computing Use | Minimum Size | Minimum Speed |
| Word Processing | 8 - 20 GB | 5400 rpm |
| Web Surfing | 10 - 20 GB | 5400 rpm |
| Light Gaming | 40 GB | 7200 rpm |
| Digital Music | 60 GB | 5400 rpm |
| Heavy Gaming | 60 - 80 GB | 7200 rpm |
| Graphics/Sound | 80 GB | 7200 rpm |
| Digital Video | 100 - 120 GB | 7200 rpm |
Another important decision is the selection of a hard drive interface. There are two interfaces available in markets today: IDE/ATA and SCSI. It is difficult to give a blanket answer, which one is better. Your choice would depend on how you use your hard drive. Many people believe that SCSI is superior since it is the faster of the two, but it is a waste for those who do not actually require it. An IDE/ATA interface works well for users who are using two to three devices like hard drives and CD ROM’s. SCSI bus is more expensive and required by those who have (or are likely to have) four or more devices.
Tip: Buy a hard drive that is compatible with your computer’s CPU, motherboard and interface; and supports the functions you take out of your PC.
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